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  Complaint Process Overview
see also   Complaint Overview Step 1: Speak to Phone Co Step Two: Gov't Complaint
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Complaint Process Overview
   
   
Local, Long Distance, and DSL Complaints and the Regulators Involved.
 

There are three types of we cover: complaints about the local phone company's services, DSL complaints, which also may be caused by the local phone companies, and long distance complaints -- complaints about long distance services that are caused by long distance companies.

  • Local Phone Service Complaints
  • Long Distance Phone Service Complaint
  • DSL Complaints
 

This discussion covers mostly residential and small business problems. These complaints can be filed as "consumer" complaints, without the need for a lawyer. Larger complaints require lawyers and are seen more as court cases. For example, a Formal Complaint for a business taken at the FCC is usually a two-year process, costing thousands of dollars in legal fees.

Each complaint type is handled by different regulators.

  • The state Public Service Commissions are supposed to handle local phone complaints.
  • The FCC handles "interstate" complaints --- that is a complaint against the long distance companies for calls that cross state-lines, i.e.; a call from New York to Massachusetts.
  • The FCC is supposed to handle all DSL complaints -- because it has declared DSL an interstate service. However, many state Public Service Commissions are also receptive to these complaints
Why Should You Take A Complaint--- Penalties And Fines For The Bells, More Pressure From The Regulators.
 
  • In some states the Bell companies are penalized millions of dollars when they have too many complaints. So, in some small way, you can make a difference.
  • By filing a complaint you have a better chance of getting some settlement out of the phone company.

Even though the complaint process is a total mess, if you feel your case is serious and that it might be effecting others, then filing a complaint is a good thing.

 

 

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